New Hampshire Geological Survey

New Hampshire Geological Survey
Name	New Hampshire Geological Survey
Formation	19th century
Jurisdiction	New Hampshire
Headquarters	Concord, New Hampshire
Parent agency	State agency

New Hampshire Geological Survey. The New Hampshire Geological Survey is a state-level public science agency responsible for investigating and documenting the geology and natural resources of New Hampshire. It provides geologic mapping, mineral resource assessments, environmental geoscience services, and hazard evaluations to support land use planning, infrastructure development, and environmental protection across the state. The Survey collaborates with federal, academic, and private institutions to deliver data, publications, and outreach to municipalities, industry, and the public.

History

The Survey traces its origins to 19th-century exploratory work by figures such as Benjamin Silliman, James Hall, and regional surveys tied to the early mapping efforts of New England mineral resources. During the late 1800s and early 1900s, state initiatives paralleled federal programs like the United States Geological Survey and linked to academic centers including Dartmouth College, University of New Hampshire, and Harvard University. Mid-20th-century developments connected the Survey with national efforts such as the Geological Society of America and the National Research Council, while interstate cooperation involved entities like the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. Contemporary history includes participation in federal programs such as the National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program and responses to events similar to the 1977 New England blizzard and regional hazard studies influenced by incidents like the Great New England Hurricane of 1938.

Organization and Governance

The Survey operates within the administrative framework of New Hampshire's state government and coordinates with agencies such as the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, New Hampshire Department of Transportation, and the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department. Its governance is shaped by state statutes and executive oversight comparable to arrangements seen in the New Jersey Geological Survey and the Massachusetts Geological Survey structures. Leadership liaises with federal partners including the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the United States Department of the Interior, and interacts with professional organizations such as the American Association of Petroleum Geologists and the American Geophysical Union.

Programs and Services

Core programs include geological hazard assessment, mineral resource inventory, groundwater and aquifer studies, and coastal zone evaluations tied to authorities like the New Hampshire Coastal Program and agencies influenced by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Services extend to technical assistance for municipalities in New Hampshire, permitting support in coordination with the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, and emergency response consultation modeled on protocols from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The Survey provides GIS services compatible with standards set by the United States Geological Survey National Geospatial Program and data sharing arrangements akin to the National Map and the National Hydrography Dataset.

Geologic Mapping and Research

The Survey produces bedrock and surficial geologic maps, stratigraphic syntheses, and structural geology studies referencing regional features such as the White Mountains, the Merrimack River, and the Seacoast region. Research topics include glacial geology linked to the Wisconsin glaciation, metamorphic petrology comparable to studies in the Berkshires, and tectonic history interacting with Appalachian orogenic frameworks like the Taconic orogeny and the Acadian orogeny. Collaborative projects involve partners such as Dartmouth College Department of Earth Sciences, the University of New Hampshire Department of Earth Sciences, and federal researchers from the United States Geological Survey.

Publications and Data Resources

The Survey maintains a repository of maps, bulletins, and data sets including bedrock maps, surficial geology maps, and groundwater reports analogous to outputs from the Pennsylvania Geological Survey and the Vermont Geological Survey. Data products are disseminated in formats interoperable with systems like the Geographic Information System standards promoted by the Open Geospatial Consortium and the National Spatial Data Infrastructure. Publications follow scholarly norms of outlets such as the Geological Society of America Bulletin and are used by planners, engineers, and academics at institutions such as Northeastern University, MIT, and the USGS New England Water Science Center.

Education, Outreach, and Partnerships

Outreach includes workshops for town planners, citizen science programs in collaboration with organizations like the Society of Economic Geologists and The Nature Conservancy, school visits linked to curricula at the New Hampshire Department of Education, and public lectures with museums such as the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center and the New Hampshire Historical Society. Partnerships extend to regional initiatives with the Northeast Regional Climate Center, watershed groups like the Piscataqua Region Estuaries Partnership, and conservation agencies including the Appalachian Mountain Club. The Survey also engages in workforce development with professional bodies like the Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration and certification programs recognized by the American Institute of Professional Geologists.

Category:Geology of New Hampshire Category:State geological surveys of the United States